Animated maps as an instrument of urban mass transport research

Abstract

Transport, in general, is a time variable spatially based phenomenon and its visualization on paper maps or by the help of classical means expresses its dynamics by specific methods. They are limited mostly by bounded means of expressing the phenomenon change in time. Animation gives us new possibilities, which do not have such limitations. This article presents an interactive web application capable, based on user choices, to dynamically visualize and study the intensity of urban mass transport in Přerov city. Its setting includes viewed lines, day, start time, acceleration and underlying layers. Resulting animations in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format can be driven by simple controls in user interface. The article demonstrates the potential of this application to incorporate cartographical animations in an urban transport research.